"Is This The Best We Can Do?"
words and music by Kerry Stanley ©2006
People want to work and they work real hard
People want to feel some pride
In the job they do and their company too
They take long hours in stride
But when the big boss says to knock your prices down
And their jobs just go away
I ask, is this the best we can do?
Is this the best we can do?
It’s never the big boss who slips through the crack
It’s never the fat cat who has to cut back
No it’s the common man who does the best he can
When the corporation gives him the sack
People I know don’t like to be sick
They want their children to be healthy and strong
Now none of us feels good all of the time
We need a little help to get along
But when you work full time and your wife does too
And you still can’t insure your kids
I ask, is this the best we can do?
Is this the best we can do?
It’s never the big boss who can’t pay his bills
It’s never the fat cat who can’t buy his pills
No it’s the working man who has to understand
It’s irresponsible for him to get ill
People want cool clean water to drink
They want to breathe fresh air each day
And it’s a whole lot better than it used to be
Here at home in the U.S.A.
But when our jobs and our waste go overseas
We make the Third World choke it down
I ask, is this the best we can do?
Is this the best we can do?
It’s never the big boss breathing the fumes
It’s never the fat cat in the dust and the gloom
No it’s Abdul and Juan who cough and still work on
Beneath the eyes of the company goons
Bridge
Long day – short pay – long way to run
Can we – not see – the damage done?
It’s never the big boss paying the dues
It’s never the fat cat singing the blues
No it’s the average Joe right here in KCMO
Who’s got to suck it up and deal with the news
It’s never the big boss taking the blow
It’s never the fat cat who runs short of dough
No it’s the single mom who lost her lucky charm
Whose bank account is getting real low
It’s never the big boss who can’t pay his loan
It’s never the fat cat who loses his home
No it’s the guy next door can’t hardly take no more
Who finds himself with no place to go
Bridge